Sudden surge in child abuse cases

Record numbers violently abused South Auckland babies have been hospitalised with severe injuries in recent weeks, shocking police and child welfare agencies and leading to speculation that the economic recession is contributing.

Detective Inspector Mark Gutry, of Counties-Manukau police, told the Sunday Star-Times that investigations had been launched into the cases of seven babies who were admitted to Auckland's Starship hospital in the past six weeks with suspected non-accidental injuries.

The number was far above the region's average of one abused baby admitted every six weeks with severe non-accidental injuries and Gutry believed it was a record high.

The injuries included a fractured skull, broken limbs and brain haemorrhages. All but one baby had been discharged.

"We are very close to concluding some of the investigations. If at the end of that investigation it appears that they are non-accidental injuries, who inflicted them will be charged."

Child, Youth and Family was overseeing all of the babies.

Gutry said he was unaware of any reason for the surge in numbers, noting the incidence of child abuse had been relatively stable in recent years.

Tau Huirama, chief executive of the child abuse network Jigsaw, said New Zealand averaged about 10 child abuse deaths a year.

"I can't help but think we've got a national catastrophe on our hands . . . It's got to that stage."

He said agencies in the Jigsaw network had noted people were suffering increased stress because of the recession.

"I think [the recession] will lead to increased abuse down the track."

Ministry of Health child and youth health chief adviser Pat Tuohy said the high numbers of recent child abuse cases were very concerning.

"It's hard to know if it's a statistical blip but certainly if it continues it means what we're doing isn't working."

He said Starship head paediatrician Dr Patrick Kelly would meet the ministry's senior executives in the next few weeks to discuss ways to boost health professionals' input into preventing child abuse.

"All of these babies will have been known to someone in the health system, but most aren't known to CYF," Tuohy said. It is believed that only 20% of abused babies and children are known to CYF.

- © Fairfax NZ News